ANNACONE HIGHLIGHTS SUCCESSFUL TPA CONFERENCE IN TORONTO
February 24, 2014
A visit from Paul Annacone, the former coach of Pete Sampras and Roger Federer, highlighted a hugely successful 2014 Tennis Professionals Association (TPA) Coaching Conference in Toronto on Thursday.
Over 250 people participated in the conference, held at Rexall Centre, giving the event its best attendance yet. With the conference condensed into one day for the first time and with a new and improved set-up, the event was better than ever with more engagement and discussion between all the guests.
Annacone took part in the full day of activities, leading sessions about on-court training and off-court topics, including qualities of a coach, preparing for competition, planning, and working with parents. He also talked a lot about his time coaching Sampras and Federer, with the coaches and guests also having a chance to interact with Annacone and ask him questions.
“It was so wonderful to have Paul at the TPA Conference this year,” said Ari Novick, director of coaching and competition development, Tennis Canada. “We have already received so much great feedback from many of the coaches at the conference, who agree Paul was an engaging and thoughtful speaker with so much valuable experience to share. He truly contributed to making this year’s TPA Conference an immense success.”
Annacone, who was given a Team Canada Olympic hockey jersey with his name on it during the conference, had a great time speaking to the coaches in attendance as well. He stated the importance of being a part of events like the TPA Conference.
“I love it,” he said. “I don’t get to do it enough. To be around a few hundred coaches and to be able to share ideas, not only in a monologue but to hear feedback and questions and ideas and things that have worked on the other side is really important. I think it’s the best way to have an enlightened vision of where the game is and how to improve it.”
The lunch hour featured the Wilson TPA Awards presented by Jones Brown ceremony, with Master of Ceremonies Timm Fisher injecting some fun and humour into the proceedings. He began the lunch with a funny ‘what not to do’ video about coaching, warming the audience up before presenting all of the winners with their awards. The recipients of this year’s TPA Excellence Awards include Gary Muller, Casey Curtis, Tennis 13 and the Waegwoltic Club.
One of the most well-renowned and talented coaches in the game, Annacone also believes that working to grow the profession of tennis coaching is an important pursuit.
“Anything that raises the interest and also gets the levels higher and also allows more opportunity for players is a great thing,” he said. “I think that coaching philosophies and strategies combined with teaching stuff, it’s great content and there’s great things to discuss. I’m always interested to hear of new philosophies and ideas that have been successful and how to implement them.”
The TPA, which is currently celebrating its 10th anniversary, is dedicated to growing coaching across Canada and assisting the nation’s certified instructors, coaches, and club professionals. A Tennis Canada organization founded in 2004, the TPA has over 2,800 members, all of whom receive exclusive TPA member benefits. For more information, visit www.tpacanada.com.